The Swiss Re Foundation Shine 2027 program is inviting applications from early-stage climate startups developing practical solutions to urban climate challenges. Unlike a traditional scholarship or fellowship, Shine is designed for entrepreneurs and young ventures that already have a working product and are testing their solutions in real-world markets.
The program targets startups that can help cities become more resilient, lower-carbon and inclusive. Selected ventures can receive grant funding, business support, expert guidance, coaching and access to climate innovation networks.
Applications for Shine 2027 are open until September 15, 2026.
Swiss Re Foundation Shine 2027 Overview
- Program Name: Shine 2027
- Organizer: Swiss Re Foundation
- Program Type: Climate Startup Accelerator and Grant Program
- Target Group: Early-stage climate startups
- Startup Age: Generally 0–4 years
- Required Stage: Working MVP with pilot or early commercial activity
- Eligible Locations: Bangalore, Bratislava, Cape Town, London, Manila, Mexico City, New York and Zurich
- Focus: Urban climate solutions
- Funding: Location-specific grants
- Example Grant: USD 30,000 in the Manila chapter
- Support: Business development, coaching, mentoring and climate innovation networks
- Application Deadline: September 15, 2026
What Is Swiss Re Foundation Shine 2027?
Shine is an accelerator and grant program developed to support early-stage ventures addressing climate challenges in cities.
The program is intended for entrepreneurs who have moved beyond the idea stage. Applicants should already have developed a minimum viable product and should be testing or selling their solution.
The goal is to help promising climate ventures improve their business models, strengthen their organizations and prepare their solutions for larger-scale impact.
Who Can Apply?
Shine 2027 is designed for early-stage ventures that meet several important criteria.
An eligible startup should generally:
- Be between 0 and 4 years old.
- Have a working minimum viable product (MVP).
- Already be running a pilot or beginning commercial activity.
- Have a scalable business model.
- Demonstrate potential for financial sustainability.
- Address a measurable urban climate challenge.
- Operate in or serve one of the eight participating cities.
This means that an entrepreneur with only a climate-business concept or presentation is unlikely to be a strong fit.
Swiss Re Foundation is looking for ventures that have already started testing their solution in the real world.
Eligible Cities and Locations
Shine 2027 is not an unrestricted global program.
The participating city chapters are:
- Bangalore
- Bratislava
- Cape Town
- London
- Manila
- Mexico City
- New York
- Zurich
The startup needs to have the required operational connection to one of these locations.
For example, simply being a climate entrepreneur from a country outside the participating locations does not automatically make a venture eligible. Applicants should carefully review the location requirements of the relevant Shine chapter.
What Kind of Climate Startups Are Eligible?
Shine focuses on solutions that can help cities become more sustainable, resilient and inclusive.
Relevant areas can include:
Clean Energy
Startups working on clean energy, energy transition and solutions that reduce dependence on carbon-intensive energy sources.
Buildings and Electrification
Innovations that improve building efficiency, electrification and the environmental performance of urban buildings.
Sustainable Transportation
Solutions designed to reduce emissions and improve the sustainability of urban mobility and transportation systems.
Waste and Circular Economy
Businesses developing innovative approaches to waste reduction, recycling, reuse and circular production.
Urban Nature and Land Use
Solutions that use nature, land and urban ecosystems to address climate risks and improve city resilience.
Climate Data and Monitoring
Startups developing climate-data, monitoring, governance or risk-management solutions can also be relevant to the program.
The central requirement is that the venture should address a real urban climate challenge and demonstrate a credible pathway to impact.
Benefits of Shine 2027
Shine is not simply a cash-grant program. Selected founders can receive a combination of financial and non-financial support.
Grant Funding
The funding amount varies according to the participating city chapter.
For example, the Manila chapter lists a grant of USD 30,000. Applicants should check the funding terms for their specific city rather than assuming that the same amount applies to every location.
Business Development Support
Selected startups can receive assistance with areas such as:
- Business-model development
- Go-to-market strategy
- Market readiness
- Organizational resilience
- Business growth
Expert Support
Founders can gain access to Swiss Re specialists with experience in areas such as:
- Risk
- Strategy
- Business development
- Climate innovation
Leadership and Executive Coaching
The program can help founders strengthen their leadership skills and improve their ability to manage and scale their ventures.
Climate Innovation Network
Participants can connect with climate entrepreneurs, innovation organizations and ecosystem partners.
The program is delivered with Climate KIC, providing selected ventures with access to a broader climate innovation ecosystem.
Is Shine 2027 Fully Funded?
Shine should not be described as a fully funded scholarship.
It is a startup accelerator and grant program. Funding is provided according to the specific Shine location and program structure.
There may also be opportunities for additional funding after successful completion of program milestones. However, applicants should not assume that future investment or follow-on funding is guaranteed.
Entrepreneurs should therefore assess the program based on the confirmed support available to their specific city chapter.
Eligibility Criteria
Before applying, founders should check the following requirements:
- The venture should generally be 0–4 years old.
- The startup should already have a working MVP.
- The solution should be undergoing a pilot or early commercial activity.
- The business should have potential to scale.
- The business model should have a pathway toward financial sustainability.
- The venture should address an urban climate challenge.
- The startup should have the required connection to one of the eight participating cities.
- Applicants should be able to demonstrate evidence of progress and potential impact.
Having a climate-related idea alone is not enough. Evidence of traction, testing, customers, pilots or measurable outcomes can strengthen the application.
What Should Applicants Highlight?
Founders should use their application to demonstrate that their venture has progressed beyond the concept stage.
Important areas to highlight include:
MVP Development
Explain what the product or service does and how it is currently being used.
Pilot Results
Provide evidence from pilot projects, including measurable outcomes where possible.
Customer Traction
If customers are already using or paying for the solution, explain the scale and nature of that traction.
Climate Impact
Clearly quantify the environmental or resilience benefits of the solution where possible.
Business Model
Explain who pays for the product or service and how the company can become financially sustainable.
Scalability
Show how the solution could be expanded to reach more customers, neighborhoods or cities.
How to Apply
Entrepreneurs interested in Shine 2027 should select the appropriate participating city and review its specific eligibility and funding requirements.
A strong application should clearly explain:
- The urban climate problem being addressed.
- The startup's solution.
- The current development stage.
- MVP and pilot evidence.
- Existing customer or market traction.
- Climate impact.
- Business model.
- Growth and scaling strategy.
- Why the venture is suitable for Shine.
- The resources and support needed to reach the next stage.
Applicants should avoid relying on broad statements about sustainability. Concrete data, customer evidence, pilot results and measurable climate outcomes can make the application much stronger.
Application Deadline
The application deadline for Swiss Re Foundation Shine 2027 is September 15, 2026.
Because applications are expected to demonstrate real-world progress, founders should use the time before the deadline to organize evidence of:
- MVP development
- Pilot results
- Customer traction
- Climate impact
- Revenue or commercial activity
- Business-model sustainability
- Growth potential
Final Thoughts
The Swiss Re Foundation Shine 2027 program is aimed at entrepreneurs who are already testing practical climate solutions in the real world. It is particularly relevant to startups working on clean energy, sustainable transportation, buildings, waste, circular economy, urban nature, climate data and related urban resilience challenges.
The most important point for prospective applicants is that Shine is not an idea-stage competition. Your venture should already have an MVP and evidence that the solution is being tested, piloted or commercialized.
With grant support, expert guidance, leadership coaching and access to a climate innovation network, Shine can help promising early-stage ventures move from initial market validation toward greater scale and impact. The application deadline is September 15, 2026, so eligible founders should begin preparing their evidence and application well in advance.
